Automobile-starter.



O. A. SMITH.- AUTOMOBILE STARTER. APPLIQATION IILEID JULY 14, 1908.

Patented Mar. 3, 1910. 2 sums-511E311.

awn-newton Q; A. SMITH. AUTOMOBILE STARTER. APPLICATION IILBD JULY 14, 1908'.

Patented Mar. 8,191:0.

a sums-41112515.

Winn/9M5 I C735? v ain't an OFFICE.

CHARLES ALVAH SMITH, or nnarrnnsono, vEnMon r.

' AUTOMOBILE-STARTER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 8, .1910.

Application filed July 14, 1908. Serial No. 443,517.

ing at Brattleboro, in the county of Windham and State'of Vermont, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automobile-Starters, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to starting devices for automobiles, by means of which the regular starting crank, as commonly used,

may be dispensed with, and the device may be locked in position by a latch, which latch be" operated by thedriver without leaving his seat.

A further object is to enable the pedal to i can be released only by retarding the spark.

' lever to the engine.

:][n the drawings forming a part of this proper point for cranking the specification, and in which like symbols of reference represent corresponding parts in the several V1ews:-F1gure 1 1s a perspec- .tive view of the device, with some of'the parts removed, showlng it applied to an -.au-

tomobile; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the sprobket-wheel and rack; Fig. 3

is a transverse section of Fig. 2; and, Fig. 4: is a sectional bottom locking the. pedal.

1 represents the the pedal. a

4 is the ratchet, rigidly mounted-on the shaft 5; G'the sprocket-wheel looselymountthe teeth ofthe loose section do not exactly coincide with the teeth of the rigid section. This construction is not absolutely nece sary, but is desirable. The sprocket-wheel 6 i is milled to fit a roller rack 8, and has the teeth extending to a point, as shown. The

rack 8, V which imparts motion to the sprocket 6, is formed of two bars of metal 9, 9, held in position by studs 10, which studs also carry the rollers 11. These studs and rollers are in one end of the rack only, and

for two reasons; first, if when the'device was being operated, the charge in the cyl-f inder should be prematurely ignited, causplan of the latch for foot-board of. the automobile; 2 the pedal; and 3 the fulcrum of rack is returned by the. spring 12, after operation, the sprocket is disengaged from the rack and revolves with the engine free from all contact with the rack. The rack is held in position to mesh with the sprocket- 6 by rollers 13, which rollers are mounted on studs 20, 'whichscrew into the end of the crank case or other suitable support.

14 is a latch to lock the pedal, the samebeing merely a safeguard to prevent the operator from attempting to use the pedal when the spark-lever is in an advanced position. The fulcrum of the pedal is at a point below the latch, and in the same casting 15 with the latch. The casting has a flange 16 around it at the topedge and through the same screws are inserted through the screwing the engine to revolve backward, the" rack would be forced back to the point holes 17, to hold the same to the foot-board. i

This rim or flange is on-top of the. footboard, and the part that-carries the latch, etc., projects below the, foot-board. The latch is made, asshown, with a coil spring 18 to push it into the slot-in which the pedal moves.

On the underside of the foot-board is shown the shaft or rod on which thesp'ark lever is'mounted, and on this rod is mounted a crank, asshown, and said crank 1s con nected to the latch in such a manner that the latch is released when the spark is retarded. The connection ,between the latch and the crank must be of such aconstruc-f tion that it will transmit motion in one di -rection only,-that is, as on the drawings, I .show a chain 18, which will pull but cannot be pushed 21 is the spark lever shaft.- The shaft on which the spark lever and 'crankare mounted follows the column down through 'the foot-board the spark lever being on the top end ofthis shaft, and thecrank that with:

draws the latch being located immediately under the foot-board.

23 is the spark lever. v

2% is a cable, or the like, connecting the rack and pedal. If the engine is mounted crosswise of the chassis a rod, or the like,

would be suflicient to make a connection.

The function of the second section of the ratchet is. to assist in engaging the rack with the-teeth on the sprock.etwheel. For

example, if, when the rack approaches the ator-desires to start the machine he .15

-' wheel 6','causing the will be disengaged in such a position that it would not en 'normal position it would sprocket, the tooth to be engaged should be age be readily, the position of the tooth coul giving the pedal a. slight kick,

changed by the jar would compress or tension the spring which controls the position of the second section, and when the spring returned to its to revolve slightly and come. to rest in a different position.

The operation of the device will be apparent from the .foregoing. When the operfirst retards the spark lever to the for cranking the engine, an by so doing,

he withdraws the latch 14 from in front of the pedal, thus permitting the said pedal to be-moved. He then presses the pedal 2 to the extreme end of its travel, thus bringing the rack into engagement with the sprocket cure by Letters-Patent, is

1. An automobile starter, comprising a rack provided with teeth at one end, a pedal for movin therack in one direction, means forreturmng the. rack, a latch for locking .the 1pedal and a spark lever connected with the atch for releasing thesame.

"2.;An automobile starter comprising in combination with the crank shaft of the engine, of apedal, a rack,

A a connection between the pedal and the rack, a sprocketwheel, aratchet wheel comprising a. section rlgid -'with the crank shaft, and a section journaled cause the sprocket. .wheel thereon,

(proper position I j sprocket wheel, a

sprocketv wheel to make thereon, a spring normally acting to hold the disconnected section in advance of the rigid section, a pawl on the "sprocket for engaging the ratchet, and a spring for returnmg therack.

a ,3. In a device of the class describechthc combination with the spark lever and the crank shaft of the engine, of a sprocket a rack meshing with the sprocket wheel, a pedal for moving the rack, a lock for the pedal, and a connection between the spark lever and the latch for releasing the same when the spark lever is in retarded position.

4. In-a device of the classdescribed, the combination with the spark lever and the crank shaft of the engine, of a sprocket wheel thereon, a rack meshing with the pedal for moving the rack, a lock for the pedal and a flexible connection between the spark lever and the latch for releasing the same when the spark lever is in retarded position.

5. In a device of the class described, the combination with the gine, of a sprocket wheel thereon, a rack comprising parallel bars, mentby the teeth of the sprockets journa ed between the bars,'said rollers being arranged in a series, at one end of. the rack for the purpose set forth, and means for moving the rack.

6. In a device of theclass described, the combination with the crank shaft, of a ratchet Wheel comprising a section secured thereto, and a section journaled thereon, and a yielding means for retainin the last named section in advance of the l ir section.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature 1n presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES ALVAH SMITH. Witnesses:

' 'Fimn C. ADAMS,

. L. G. Tasman.

crank shaft of the enst named rollers for engu ei 

